SB2646 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 19928 LCT 46347 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB2646

Introduced 2/15/2008, by Sen. M. Maggie Crotty

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/27-24.2	from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.2
625 ILCS 5/11-1420	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1420

Amends the School Code. Requires that a driver education course shall include classroom instruction on the safety rules concerning funeral processions. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Requires (instead of permits) the lead vehicle and the final vehicle (instead of only the lead vehicle) in the funeral procession to be equipped with a flashing amber light which may be used only when such vehicle is used as a lead or final vehicle in such procession. Requires (instead of permits) vehicles comprising a funeral procession to utilize funeral pennants, flags, and stickers on either the side or back window of the vehicle. Requires vehicles comprising a funeral procession to drive with flashing hazard warning signal flashers to identify the individual vehicles in such a procession. Provides that a hearse shall be used as part of all funeral processions.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning vehicles.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 27-24.2 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/27-24.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 27-24.2)

Sec. 27-24.2. Driver education course. Any school district which maintains grades 9 through 12 shall offer a driver education course in any such school which it operates. Both the classroom instruction part and the practice driving part of such driver education course shall be open to a resident or non-resident pupil attending a non-public school in the district wherein the course is offered and to each resident of the district who acquires or holds a currently valid driver's license during the term of the course and who is at least 15 but has not reached 21 years of age, without regard to whether any such person is enrolled in any other course offered in any school that the district operates. Each student attending any public or non-public high school in the district must receive a passing grade in at least 8 courses during the previous 2 semesters prior to enrolling in a driver education course, or the student shall not be permitted to enroll in the course; provided that the local superintendent of schools (with respect to a student attending a public high school in the district) or chief school administrator (with respect to a student attending a non-public high school in the district) may waive the requirement if the superintendent or chief school administrator, as the case may be, deems it to be in the best interest of the student. Any school district required to offer a driver education course or courses as provided in this Section also is authorized to offer either the classroom instruction part or the practice driving part or both such parts of a driver education course to any resident of the district who is over age 55; provided that any such school district which elects to offer either or both parts of such course to such residents shall be entitled to make either or both parts of such course available to such residents at any attendance center or centers within the district designated by the school board; and provided further that no part of any such driver education course shall be offered to any resident of the district over age 55 unless space therein remains available after all persons to whom such part of the driver education course is required to be open as provided in this Section and who have requested such course have registered therefor, and unless such resident of the district over age 55 is a person who has not previously been licensed as a driver under the laws of this or any other state or country. However, a student may be allowed to commence the classroom instruction part of such driver education course prior to reaching age 15 if such student then will be eligible to complete the entire course within 12 months after being allowed to commence such classroom instruction.

Such a driver education course shall include classroom instruction on distracted driving as a major traffic safety issue. Such a driver education course may include classroom instruction on the safety rules and operation of motorcycles or motor driven cycles. Such a driver education course shall include classroom instruction on the safety rules concerning funeral processions.

Such a course may be commenced immediately after the completion of a prior course. Teachers of such courses shall meet the certification requirements of this Act and regulations of the State Board as to qualifications.

(Source: P.A. 95-339, eff. 8-21-07.)

Section 10. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 11-1420 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1420) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1420)

Sec. 11-1420. Funeral processions.

(a) Funeral processions have the right-of-way at intersections when vehicles comprising such procession have their headlights lighted, subject to the following conditions and exceptions:

1. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle giving an audible or visible signal;

2. Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a traffic officer;

3. The operator of the leading vehicle in a funeral procession shall comply with stop signs and traffic control signals but when the leading vehicle has proceeded across an intersection in accordance with such signal or after stopping as required by the stop sign, all vehicles in such procession may proceed without stopping, regardless of the sign or signal and the leading vehicle and the vehicles in procession shall proceed with due caution.

(b) The operator of a vehicle not in the funeral procession shall not drive his vehicle in the funeral procession except when authorized to do so by a traffic officer or when such vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible or visible signal.

(c) Operators of vehicles not a part of a funeral procession may not form a procession or convoy and have their headlights lighted for the purpose of securing the right-of-way granted by this Section to funeral processions.

(d) The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession may overtake and pass the vehicles in such procession if such overtaking and passing can be accomplished without causing a traffic hazard or interfering with such procession.

(e) The lead vehicle and the final vehicle in the funeral procession shall may be equipped with a flashing amber light which may be used only when such vehicle is used as a lead or final vehicle in such procession. Vehicles comprising a funeral procession shall may utilize funeral pennants, or flags, and or windshield stickers on either the side or back window of the vehicle. Vehicles comprising a funeral procession shall drive with or flashing hazard warning signal flashers to identify the individual vehicles in such a procession.

(f) A hearse shall be used as part of all funeral processions.

(Source: P.A. 90-58, eff. 1-1-98.)